O'Donnell urges FOI laws amendment

Freedom of information laws should be amended so Cabinet ministers can have "real discussions" without worrying that arguments will be made public, the Cabinet Secretary has said.

PUBLISHED: 02:34, Sat, Dec 17, 2011

Sir Gus O'Donnell said curbing public disclosure on discussions in the Cabinet Room would make it a [PA]

Freedom of information laws should be amended so Cabinet ministers can have "real discussions" without worrying that arguments will be made public, the Cabinet Secretary has said.

Sir Gus O'Donnell, who holds the highest rank in the Civil Service, said curbing public disclosure on discussions in the Cabinet Room would make it a "safe space" and promote good governance.

In an interview with The Times, Sir Gus said he wanted minutes to accurately reflect what was said, without a temptation to "fudge" the record of discussions amid concerns they will be made public.

"The bit that I'm really against in freedom of information is that bit where it reduces the quality of our governance, so I want there to be a safe space," he told The Times.

Sir Gus, who is retiring at the end of the year, said amendments would mean ministers could have "real discussion, for people to think they can say, 'Actually, I disagree with this policy. I think it's a really bad idea for the following four reasons'".

"I want the minutes accurately to reflect what people have said. I want good governance. I want them to have an open space. I want us not to be fudging the issue by saying there was a little discussion."

He told the newspaper he had not fudged any minutes, but said he was "nervous", adding: "Can I guarantee that this is going to stay private? No, I can't."

He said he wanted more certainty that Cabinet minutes would be protected than offered by the current law, suggesting amendments to the Freedom of Information Act.

"If we could draft it in a way that would really enhance openness and transparency whilst allowing some safe space, that would be good for all of us."

In the interview, Sir Gus also voiced support for more money from the taxpayer for prime ministers' wives. "The role is a broader, more public role these days," he said.